GM to drive industry toward sustainable natural rubber tyres

General Motors Co. is collaborating with rubber and tyre suppliers to establish a plan to source more rubber through environmentally sound and sustainable natural rubber production.

Additionally, the auto maker also intends to move the industry toward net-zero deforestation and uphold human and labor rights.

Steve Kiefer, GM’s senior vice president of global purchasing and supply chain, said in a press conference May 15 that GM is establishing commitments with suppliers such as Bridgestone Americas Inc., Continental Tyre the Americas, Goodyear and Michelin to determine a plan for the future.

“Our supplier partners are an extension of our company,” Kiefer said. “We want to encourage affordable, safer and cleaner options for our customers that drive value to both our organization and the communities in which we work.”

Working with those suppliers is the first step in the plan, as the auto maker looks for ways to develop transparency into natural rubber usage and ensure its traceability throughout the supply chain.